Knit stitch machines



Mardi 18, 1969 Q GQEBEL ETAL 3,433,191

KNIT STITCH MACHINES Filed Feb. 1, i966 sheet INVENTORS Gregory 608ML Stanley J. Kefterer Marh1s,1969 v G GOEBEL ETAL 3,433,191

KNIT STITCH MACHINES Filed Feb. 1. 196e sheet -2 of 4 r mvENToRs 1 Gregory Goebel, Stanley J. Ketierer G. GOEBEL ET AL Much 1s, 1969 KNIT STITCH MACHINES Y Sheet Filed Feb. 1. 1966 INVENTOR` y f um@ b Y e .T F. 90@ y n. J y A, ww Gm nr S Vl B WITNESS March 1s, 1969 GIGOEBEL ET AL 3,433,191

KNIT STITCH MACHINES Filed Feb. 1, 199e sheet 4 of 4 INVENTOR' Gregory Goebel,

MTM-55 F ig 8, Stanley J. Keterer f J- fw 1, w

hat ATTORNEY United StatesJ Patent Oce 3,433,191 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for making a strip of warp knitted cloth employs a number of endwise reciprocatory needles and a number of cooperating orbital loopers. The needles are jogged sideways of the direction of cloth feed, and the number of needles employed is at least one greater than the number of loopers.

Thish invention relates to mechanism for producing a band of interconcatenated stitches which may be applied as a border along an edge of fabric panels or as a joiuer between two panels of fabric.

It is an object of this invention to provide a knit stitch mechanism utilizing eye pointed needles to carry the yarns into the knitted band of stitches which are produced by the machine. With this arrangement the yarns may be introduced to and threaded in the needle eyes easier and more conveniently than has been heretofore possible to thread conventional yarn guides.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a knit stitch mechanism together with a localized work feeding mechanism for advancing the fabric panels which are to be bordered or joined by the knit stitch operation, in which the yarn carrying needles are jogged laterally in the formation of the knit stitches. With this arrangement the fabrics to which the knit stitches are applied pass through the machine under the influence of the work feeding mechanism without lateral jogging movement being applied thereto.

-Because of the absence of any lateral shift imparted to the fabrics being stitched, and because the loop forming instrumentalities are not shifted laterally relatively to the fabrics being stitched, a hitherto unattainable degree of perfection in the alignment and regularity of the yarn loops produced by the mechanism of this invention is made possible so that stitches are formed which very closely resemble jersey knitted stitches.

With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism of the knit stitch machine of this invention with the machine frame shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 represents a head-end elevational view of the knit stitch machine of FIG. 1 with portions of the bed illustrated in cross-section taken substantially through the point of needle penetration;

FIG. 3 represents a front elevational view of the needle bar and stripper foot arrangement of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustrating the cam mechanism for jogging the needles;

FIG. 5 is a tcp plan view of the looper and work feeding mechanisms with the bed of the knit stitch machine removed;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are perspective views of portions of the yarn coucatenating 'instrumentalities together with the yarns being manipulated thereby to illustrate the knit stitch formation accomplished by the one row of needles of the machine of this invention of which:

FIG. 6 illustrates the position of needles and loopers at needle loop seizure;

FIG. 7 illustrates the position of parts as the needles are raised after loop seizure;

FIG. 8 illustrates the position of parts during needle penetration; and

FIG. 9 illustrates the position of parts as the seized loops are shed from the loopers;

j FIG. 10 represents a top plan view of the knit stitch produced by the machine of this invention using both rows of needles; and

FIG. 11 represents a bottom plan view of the knit stitch illustrated in FIG. 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. l of the drawings, the knit stitch machine of this invention comprises a machine frame including a flat work supporting bed 11 from which rises a hollow standard 12 sustaining a hollow bracket arm 13 which overhangs the bed.

Journaled lengthwise in the bracket arm 13 is a main drive shaft 16 which exteriorly of the bracket arm carries a balance wheel pulley 17 by which the main drive shaft may be belt driven from any known power source (not shown) such as an electric motor, sewing machine transmitter, etc. A bed shaft 18 journaled beneath the bed is driven from the main drive shaft 16, at the same speed and in timed relation therewith by a timing belt 19 entrained on pulleys 20 and 21 on the main drive shaft and on the bed shaft.

Axially slidable lengthwise in the bracket arm 13 beneath the main drive shaft 16 is a needle jogging rod 25 which has secured to it at the free extremity of the bracket arm a needle bar gate 26. The needle bar 26 is formed with a downward pojection 27, which is guided sldably between the b-racket arm 13 and a guide bracket 29 secured to the bracket arm so as to prevent turning movement of the needle bar gate and the needle jogging rod 25. journaled for vertical reciprocation in the needle bar gate 26 is a needle bar 30 carrying at its lower ex tremity a needle clamp 31 for a multiplicity of eye pointed yarn carrying needles 32 arranged in two parallel rows, reference numeral 32 indicating the needles in the front row and reference numeral 32' indicating those in the rear row, each row extending lengthwise of the bracket arm. Preferably the needles in each row are equally spaced, the space between the rows being one half the distance between adjacent needles in each row, and the needles in each row being otset opposite the space between the needles in the opposite row. It is also preferable that the number of needles in the front row be greater by one than the number of needles in the rear row. With this preferable arrangement, a knit-stitch is attainable showing luniform straight rows of yarn loops both lengthwise and transversely and having the appearance of a jersey knit. Other arrangements of the needles, however, may be made as for decorative stitching effects or the like.

Endwise reciprocatory motion is imparted to the needle bar from a counterbalanced crank 33 fast on the main drive shaft. A drive link 34 embracing the crank 33 is stabilized by a lateral linger 35 which is constrained in a guide slot 36 yformed in the bracket arm. A needle bar reciprocating stud 37 which is clamped perpendicularly to the needle bar and guided in a slot 38 in the needle bar gate 26 is journaled for turning and axial sliding movement in the drive lik 34.

For imparting lateral jogging motion to the needle bar in opposite directions on alternate needle reciprocations a barrel cam 50 former integrally with a clip belt pulley 51 is journaled on the needle jogging -rod 25 within the bracket arm. The barrel cam is driven at one half the speed of the main drive shaft by a clip belt 52 entrained yon the pulley 51 and on a pulley 53 of half the size fast on the main drive shaft 16. The barrel cam 50 is positioned axially between a bushing 54 at one side and at the other side by constrainingrollers 55 carried by the standard of the machine frame. A cam follower bracket 56 tracking the barrel cam 50.

The thread carrying needles 32 and 32 cooperate in the formation of a coherent fabric web of knit stitches with a plurality of loopers 6G and 60 which are secured in a pre-determined relationship in a looper carrying block 61 by set screws 62. As best illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, each looper 60, is preferably formed with a straight cylindrical shank 63 and with a narrowed throat 64 at the top above which is formed a hook 65 of which one side is Ibeveled to provide a yarn engaging beak 66 at one side. The loopers 60 and 60 are arranged in the looper carrying block in two parallel rows the loopers in the front row being indicated by the reference character 60 -and those on the rear row by the reference character 60'. There exists a spacing between loopers in each row and a spacing between rows which is identical with the arrangement of the thread carrying needles 32 and 32 in the needle clamp 31 except that one less looper is provided in each row than there are needles in each row.

The looper carrying block is imparted on orbital motion in a plane parallel to the top of the work supporting bed so as to move each looper beak in a circular path about 'a respective one of the paths of needle reciprocation and at a rate twice that of the rate of needle reciprocation. To this end a lpair of saddles 70 are secured beneath the work supporting bed as by fastening screws 71, one saddle at each side of the path reciprocation of the needles. In each saddle is journaled a vertical stud shaft 72 carrying an eccentric pin 73 at the top and having a helical pinion 74 secured thereon. A pair of helical drive gears 75 fast on the bed ,shaft 18 mesh each with one of the helical pinions to drive the eccentrics at twice the speed `of needle reciprocation. Spanning the saddles 70 is :a plate 76 having at one side a boss 77 formed with a bore 78 embracing the eccentric pin 73 of one of the stud shafts 72. At the opposite side the plate 76 is formed with a boss 79 formed with a slot 80 lengthwise of the plate embracing the eccentric pin 73 of the other stud shaft 72. The looper carrying bar 71 is secured on by screws 81 to the plate 76 beneath van `opening 82 is the plate 76 thus to partake of the circular orbital motion imparted by the eccentric pins 73.

T-he work supporting bed 11 is formed beneath the needles with an opening across which is secured a throat plate 91. The throat plate is formed with needle apertures 92 through which the needles 32 and 32 are reciprocated, and with slots 93 through which operate the toothed limbs of a work feed dog 94 which forms a part of the work feeding mechanism to be described hereinbelow. A presser foot 95 carried by a presser bar 96 endwise slidable in the bracket arm 13 is spring biased downwardly toward the throat plate and in opposition to the work feed dog. The presser foot is preferably formed with a large opening 97 through which the needles reciprocate.

For preventing agging of the work in the large presser foot yopening 17, a stripper foot 98 is provided. The stripper foot is yieldngly sustained for limited vertical movement relatively to a carrier -frame 99 slidable on the needle bar beneath the bracket arm. The carrier frame 99 is clamped toV a vertical rod 100 slidable endwise in the guide projection 27 of the needle bar gate 26. Clamped to the vertical rod within the bracket arm is a lateral stud 101 to which is pivoted a link 102 which embraces a crank pin 103 on the counterbalanced needle reciprocation crank 33. The crank pin 102 is preferably timed relatively to the needle bar reciprocating crank 33 so as to lower the stripper foot only during the initial upstroke of the needles thereby deterring upward travel of yany work fabrics or yarns with the needles and yet not interfering with the advancement of work by the feed mechanism.

For operating the work feed dog a conventional drop feed mechanism as used in sewing machines may be employed. This drop feed mechanism comprises a feed bar frame to which the feed dog 94 is secured. The feed bar frame is pivoted at one extremity to spaced feed advance rock arms 111 extending from a feed advance rock shaft 112 journaled beneath the bed. A rock arm 113 fast on the feed advance rock shaft is Ipivotally connected to a pitman 114 embracing an adjustable eccentric 115 on the bed shaft 18. The adjustable eccentric 115 may be of any -conventional variety, and as illustrated in the drawings is of the type including a locking plunger 116 carried in the bed, depression of which locks the eccentric body for adjustment of eccentricity upon turning movement of the balance wheel 17 so as to selectively adjust the extent of work feed movement occurring between each penetration of the needles. Beneath the opposite extremity of the feed bar frame is pivoted a bifurcated follower 117 which embraces `a feed lift eccent-ric 118 fast on the bed shaft 18.

The yarns, which are directed one to the eye of each needle, are led from any conventional creel (not shown), each yarn to an individual friction disk tensioning device 120 which tension device may be supported on a 4plate 121 secured atop the bracket arm 13. From the tension devices 120, the yarns are directed through yarn guides 122 and 123 fixed on the bracket arm and each yarn downwardly through an individual eyelet 124 in a yarn guide bracket 125 secured on the stripper foot carrier frame 99. The yarns are then directed over a guide bar 126 carried by the needle clamp 31 and then downwardly to the needle eyes. Because of the differential in timing between reciprocation of the needle bar 30 and the stripper foot 97, this passage of the yarns through the eyeleted bracket 125 and over the guide bar 126 will elect a take-up action on the yarns during each rise of the needles. Since the looper motion, as will be described in detail hereinbelow, creates only a small loop in the yarns and requires only a minimum needle penetration, the slight take-up action provided by the interaction of the guide bracket 125 and the guide bar 126 is suicient to eliminate all undesirable slack in the knit stitches which are formed.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the formation of a knit stitch by the above described machine will now be described.

FIG. 6 illustrates four needles 32 A, B, C and D and three loopers 60 A, B and C cooperating therewith at the point in a cycle at which the needle loops are seized by the loopers. The needles are beginning to rise from their position of maximum penetration and the loopers are moving in the direction of the curved arrows forwardly with the beaks passing closely adjacent to the needles, each looper to seize a loop of yarn from the cooperating needle. The right hand needle 32D does not cooperate with a looper in the position illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 illustrates the relative position of the needles and loopers as the needles are reciprocated out of the work. Although the loopers, such as 60A and B illustrated in FIG. 7, continue to orbit in the direction indicated by the curved arrows, the yarn loops seized thereon are not shed.

FIG. 8 illustrates the relative positions of the needles and loopers as the needles are jogged laterally to the left and make the next succeeding work penetration. The needles 32B and 32C and 32D will enter the thread loops held on the loopers 60A, 60B and 60C, respectively in the manner illustrated by needles 32B and 32C which are shown in FIG. 8, since the loopers at this point in the stitch forming cycle are disposed directly in front of the needles. The needle 32A on this penetration does not cooperate with a looper.

Since the needles 32B, 32C, and 32D will have entered the yarn loops, continued orbital motion of the loopers toward the rear of the needles will shift the loopers free of the previously held loops. This shedding motion of the looper is illustrated in FIG. 9. The loopers free of loops are then in position upon continued orbital motion to seize fresh yarn loop from the needles in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates in perspective the yarn concatenation which would be obtained from an arrangement of four needles and three loopers, and in this View work fabric has been omitted in the interest of clarity.

FIG. 10 illustrates a top plan view of the yarn concatenation which would be obtained by the mechanism of this invention using only one row of siX equally spaced needles.

FIG. 1l illustrates a bottom plan view of the yarn concatenation obtained under the condition described above with regard to FIG. 10.

It will be apparent, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 that each of the loopers 60 orbits about one` and always the same axis of needle reciprocation, and that it is only the needles which are jogged laterally on alternate reciprocations. Since neither the loopers nor the fabric are jogged laterally, the yarn loops, as illustrated in FIG. 1l, are drawn perfectly parallel to the direction of knitting. The resulting seam thus closely resembles a weft knitted fabric strip such as a jersey knit. When the seam produced by the machine of this invention is applied as a border, joining seam, or decoration strip upon weft knitted fabric, therefore, the seam blends perfectly therewith.

Having thus set forth the nature of this invention, what we claim herein is:

1. A knit stitch machine comprising a frame including a fabric web supporting platform, means for feeding a fabric web in one direction across said work supporting platform, a plurality of at least three eye-pointed yarn carrying needles, means for supporting said needles in parallel and spaced relation in a row arranged transversely of the direction of feed of said fabric web, means for imparting endwise reciprocation to said needles in unison through said platform, at least two yarn loopers arranged at the opposite side of said fabric web supporting platform from said needle suupporting means, said loopers being always less in numbers than said needles, means operable in timed relation with said needle reciprocating means for imparting orbital needle cooperating movement to said yarn loopers about predetermined respective paths of endwise needle reciprocation, and means for imparting jogging movement laterally of the direction of feed of the fabric web of said plurality of needles between successive endwise reciprocations thereof to carry adjacent ones of said aligned needles alternately into cooperative relation with said yarn loopers.

Z. A knit stitch machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said needles are supported in equally spaced relations, and in which said needle jogging means imparts jogging movement to said needles of an amplitude equal to the spacing between adjacent needles in said row.

3. A knit stitch machine as set forth in claim 2 in which said yarn looper is carried for movement in unison with a plurality of like yarn loopers arranged in a row aligned parallel with said row of needles and with a spacing therebetween equal to that of the spacing between said needles, and in which the number of said yarn loopers is one less than the number of said needles in said row.

4. A knit stitch machine as set forth in claim 3 in which two substantially parallel rows of said needles and yarn loopers are provided and in which said means for feeding a fabric web across said work supporting platform is effective to advance a fabric web between each penetration of said needles a distance equal to the spacing between said parallel rows of needles.

5. A knit stitch machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said yarn looper comprises a shank arranged substantially parallel to said needles and a yarn engaging beak offset perpendicularly to said yarn looper shank, and in which said orbital needle cooperating movement imparted to said looper moves said yarn engaging beak in a substantially circular path eccentric to said predetermined path of endwise needle penetration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,389 2/1944 Clayton 112-199 2,722,186 ll/ 1955 Pofenberger 112-200 2,890,579 6/ l95 9 Mauersberger. 3,109,395 ll/1963 Batty et al. 112-79 3,274,805 9/1966 Duhl. 3,288,092 11/ 1966 lBoser 112--100 3,301,207 l/l967 Reeber et al. 112-200 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,507 12/1954 France.

982,449 2/ 1965 Great Britain.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 66-85 

